Side-by-side refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Side-by-side refrigerators have complex structures and high part costs due to the use of turnover beams for sealing gaps between door bodies, which complicates assembly and increases labor costs.

Innovation Solution

A simplified door body locking assembly that uses elastic pieces and claws to lock and seal the gap between door bodies, eliminating the need for a turnover beam, thereby reducing part costs and simplifying the assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a turnover beam is used to seal the gap between door bodies, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and part cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the turnover beam component from the door assembly, replacing it with a simplified sealing mechanism where the door seal directly engages with the counterbore structure on the opposite door body, removing the need for complex intermediate sealing components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the sealing function and locking function into a single integrated mechanism where the door seal simultaneously provides sealing and engages with the counterbore to prevent door separation, eliminating the need for separate turnover beam components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a turnover beam is used to seal the gap between door bodies, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the turnover beam component and its associated assembly steps, allowing the door seal to directly engage with the counterbore structure, which significantly reduces the number of assembly operations required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The counterbore structure is pre-formed on the door body during manufacturing, allowing the door seal to be directly installed and engage with the counterbore in a single assembly step, eliminating the need for separate turnover beam installation procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a turnover beam is used to seal the gap between door bodies, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the part cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidpart cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the turnover beam component entirely, reducing the bill of materials and associated procurement costs while maintaining sealing functionality through the simplified door seal and counterbore engagement mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the expensive, complex turnover beam with a simpler, more cost-effective door seal and counterbore structure that achieves the same sealing function at lower material and manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution results in a side-by-side refrigerator with a simpler structure, lower production costs, and improved assembly efficiency, ensuring reliable sealing and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a door body locking assembly (200) is provided to the refrigerator body; the door body locking assembly (200) includes a claw (220, 230) and an elastic piece (241, 242)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3339780B1Side-by-side refrigerator
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 HEFEI HUALING CO LTD
  • EP3339780B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3339780B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3339780B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a side-by-side refrigerator (1). The side-by-side refrigerator (1) comprises: a refrigerator body, the interior of the refrigerator body being provided with a refrigerating compartment; a left door body (110) and a right door body (120), wherein the left door body (110) and the right door body (120) are respectively arranged on the refrigerator body to jointly open and close the refrigerating compartment, the left door body (110) is provided with a left door seal (111), and the right door body (120) is provided with a right door seal (121); and a door body locking assembly (200), wherein the left door body (110) and the right door body (120) are locked by the door body locking assembly (200) when the refrigerating compartment is closed, and the left door seal (111) and the right door seal (121) jointly seal a gap between the left door body (110) and the right door body (120).